College of Sarcasm - A Bard Subclass
“Oh, congratulations. You’ve decided to attack the bard first. Too scared to go near the barbarian I guess.”
Bards of the College of Sarcasm know that the pen is mightier than the sword and words can be sharper than any blade. These bards wield sarcasm as both shield and sword, lacing their performances with mockery so sharp it leaves emotional scars. While other bards may inspire with song or poetry, bards of the College of Sarcasm use their talents to cripple you emotionally and shatter your ego.
These bards thrive in social chaos and combat tension, finding opportunity in awkward silences and laughter on the edge of tears. A sardonic grin, a scoffing sigh, or a snide compliment can turn enemies’ attacks into punchlines and bolster allies with begrudging praise that somehow works. Whether on stage or in battle, they find that nothing unnerves a foe quite like being laughed at by friends and foes alike.
Level 3: Litany of Insults
3rd-level College of Sarcasm feature
You also learn the Vicious Mockery cantrip if you don’t already know it, and it doesn’t count against the number of bard cantrips you know. When you cast it, you can expend a use of Bardic Inspiration, rolling a Bardic Inspiration die and adding it to the damage total.
Level 3: Fractured Focus
Your sarcasm doesn’t just irritate—it destabilizes, causing their concentration to be broken as your searing words break their minds.
As a Bonus Action, you can target a creature that can see or hear you within 30 feet that is concentrating on a spell. The creature must succeed on a Charisma saving throw, or it loses Concentration on the spell and is unable to cast a spell that requires Concentration for 1 minute.
Once you use this benefit, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long Rest. You can also restore your use of it by expending one use of your Bardic Inspiration (no action required).
Level 6: Mocking Presence
You know how to dominate a room—or battlefield—with little more than a raised eyebrow and a poorly disguised yawn.
As a Bonus Action, you can unleash your Mocking Presence. Choose one creature within 60 feet of you that can hear and understand you. That creature must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or suffer one of the following effects of your choice until the start of your next turn:
Insecure: The target has disadvantage on its next D20 Test roll.
Flustered: The target cannot take reactions.
Embarrassed: The target’s movement speed is halved, as it hesitates and second-guesses itself.
Demoralized: Until the end of their next turn, the creature deals only half damage with weapon attacks.
Mortified: The creature can’t take the Help action or benefit from being helped (as allies are too embarrassed to be seen with them) until the end of its next turn.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long Rest. You can also restore your use of it by expending two uses of your Bardic Inspiration (no action required).
Devastating Irony (14th Level)
At 14th level, your sarcasm bends luck itself, making foes fumble at the worst moments. When a creature within 60 feet rolls a natural 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can use your reaction to amplify their failure. The natural 1 triggers a catastrophic mishap:
Ouch: The creature’s attack hits the creature’s ally within range of the attack. If no allies are in range, the creature hits itself with the attack.
Saving Throw: The creature suffers an additional effect (e.g., falls prone, drops held items).
Ability Check: The creature’s failure has drastic narrative consequences (e.g., a Persuasion check turns the NPC hostile, a Stealth check causes a loud, embarrassing noise).
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Art Credit - WotC
